By Aggrey Baba
Government has, through Haji Faruk Kirunda, the Special Presidential Assistant for Press and Mobilization dismissed claims that President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy is behind the daily traffic jams choking Kampala roads, noting that the congestion in the city has little to do with the President’s movements.
He explained that the President mostly uses alternative routes such as the Entebbe Expressway or Northern Bypass when travelling to and from State House or project sites, and only occasionally passes through the city centre with police clearing the way temporarily.
“President Museveni does not traverse the city centre daily, yet traffic jams persist,” Kirunda said, stressing that Kampala’s road mess is a product of rapid urbanization, vehicle population growth, reckless boda boda riders, undisciplined drivers, and heavy trucks in the city centre.
Kirunda added that the President’s convoy is smaller than those of many world leaders and functions as a mobile office, allowing him to conduct government business while ensuring his security. Any disruption to traffic is brief and strictly controlled.
He challenged critics to look at other Ugandan cities, noting that if it was the President causing congestion, the same traffic jams would be visible in Mbarara, Jinja, Mbale, Masaka, or Gulu, but that is not the case.
Government is meanwhile pushing for expanded road infrastructure, stricter boda boda regulations, and decentralised development to ease pressure on Kampala roads, but warned residents that blaming the presidential convoy is misleading. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
